Steve Silva Places 13th In Voting For Walter Payton Award

Nov 28, 2005

Nov. 28, 2005

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Holy Cross senior tailback Steve Silva (East Providence, R.I.) placed 13th in the voting for the 2005 Walter Payton Award, presented annually by the Sports Network to the top player in Division I-AA football. The Payton Award will be presented at the Division I-AA College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 15, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Voting, which is based on regular season performance only, was conducted among 113 media members and media relations professionals covering I-AA. The top three players in the voting, Brown running back Nick Hartigan, Eastern Washington quarterback Erik Meyer and New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos, will be in attendance at the awards ceremony.

In 10 games played this season, Silva totaled 2,134 all-purpose yards, rushing for 913 yards and 11 touchdowns on 189 carries, catching 54 passes for 364 yards and a score, returning 19 kickoffs for 462 yards and a touchdown, and bringing back 22 punts for 395 yards and two scores. He currently leads in the nation in all-purpose yards, while ranking second in punt returns, 12th in scoring, 26th in kickoff returns, 34th in receptions and 35th in rushing yards. Silva also leads the Patriot League in all-purpose yards, receptions and punt returns, while standing second in scoring and kickoff returns, and third in rushing.

Over the course of his career as a Crusader, Silva has totaled 2,646 rushing yards on 615 carries, and 154 receptions for 1,190 yards. He has also scored 38 total touchdowns for 228 points during his collegiate career, while recording 5,153 all-purpose yards. Silva finishes his career ranked in the Holy Cross all-time top 10 in rushing touchdowns (second), all-purpose yards (second), total touchdowns scored (third), rushing carries (third), points scored (third), rushing yards (third) and receptions (fourth).

Holy Cross concluded the 2005 season with an overall record of 6-5, and a 3-3 mark in the Patriot League. The Crusaders posted a winning record for the first time since 2000, and only the second time since 1992.